Apparatus for regulating the firing of anti-aircraft guns



J. L. ROUTIN.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FIRING OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. I918.

Patented July 6, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET x.'

f I J: Ll APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FIRING O F ANTI-AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAILG, 1918- 1,345,707, Patented Ju1y 6, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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I. L.' ROUT IN. APPARATUS FOR R EGULATING THE FIRING 0F ANTI-AIRCRAFT. APPLICATION men m, 6. 191's.

4 K Patented July 6, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET, 3. W-

J. L. ROUT|N. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FIRING 0F ANTI-AIRCRAFT.

- APPLICATIYQN min MAR. 6'. 191a. 1,345,707, I Patented July 6, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- ava PATENT orFicE.

JOSEPH LOUIS ROUTIN, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FIRING OF AN CPI-AIRCRAFT GUNS.

Patented July 6, 1920.

Application filed March 6, 1918. Serial No. 220,858.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH LOUIS RoU'rIN, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of 2 Rue Olchanski, Paris, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Regulating the Firing of Anti-Aircraft, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification. This invention relates to a modification of the apparatus described in my prior application -for Patent Serial No. 190,337, filed,

8th September, 1917, now Patent No. 1,345,703, dated July 6, 1920, and the same notation is followed in the present specification.

Knowing, at the time 25:0 when the readings are made, the angle of sight a the altitude H of the objective, its azimuthal angular speed and its zenithal angular speed to determine the corrections to be made in the aim as well as the observed distance or range D The duration of the flight corresponding to the time t:0 (duration which is completely defined when H and 0a,, are known) being designated by f, it can be admitted that the correction o to be made to the vertical aim and the correction 8 to be made to the direction pointing are given with suflicient approximation by the formulas:

a a 21%). 6% at).

As the altitude varies rather slowly it can, on the other hand, be admitted that the extrapolated or predicted distance D is defined by the intersection with the horizontal plane, of the altitude H with the line of aim making with the horizon an angle in which formula t, represents the time lost or required for reading the range D and angle of height 0: to determine the height according to the scale, fix the elevation, correct the adjustment of the telescope in relation to the aXis of the gun, regulate the fuse and load the gun.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing one form of my improved apparatus;

Figs. 2 and 2 are diagrammatic views showing a modification;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of curves giving durations of flight f and Fig. 4 is a similar view giving extrapolated distances or distances debouchoirs.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a scale in functions of o in a particular case where scale 27 is graduated in functions of the values Reference being made to the annexed drawing illustrating one form of my present improved apparatus, the figure relating to the method where the corrections of direction are given in the horizontal plane, 1 is a cylindrical drum adapted to be rotated on its axis 2-2 by operation of the hand crank 3 the movement of which is transmitted to the drum through the worm 4 and worm wheel 5. The degree of rotation of the drum 1 is shown by the index carried by the nut 6 which is displaced longitudinally without turning on the screw threaded shaft of the worm 4, causing the index to move along a scale 7 graduated in functions of the height of the target.

88 represents the direction of the optical axis of the aiming telescope for height, and 9 is a sector fixed to the said telescope.

l0 and 11 are two steel bands carrying respectively two indices 12, 13. These bands are fixed at one end to the sector 9 and at the other end respectively to two spring barrels 14, 15 which tend to keep them constantly in tension.

On the drum 1 are traced two series of curves Figs. 3 and 4. The first of these series, as shown in Fig. 3 have marked on their axes of ordinates distances H and on their axes of abscissas angles of elevation c Each curve represents the time of flight f which is completely defined when H and 0a., are known and is indicated by the index 12.

In order to distinguish these sets of curves 100 in practice, one set may be traced in black and the other set in red, and indices may be correspondingly colored. The second of these series as shown in Fig. 4: have for ordinates heights H and for abscissas angles of elevation 0a., and indicate extrapolated distances D expressed in hectometers, or the distances known in French artillery practice as distances debouchoirs or fuse set tings which are indicated by the second index 13 which may also be red.

In order that this latter reading may be correct, the position of the index 13 must correspond, not to the actual value 0a,, of the angle of sight but to its extrapolated value d z Viv 1) 8%) The introduction of the term I I (,f.+. fl= 1 the drum 21 by the worm 24 and worm wheel 25. The degree of rotation of drum 21 is shown by an index on the nut 26 which moves along the threaded shaft of the hand crank 23 in front of a scale 27 graduated in functions of the values of 7%.

On the right hand part of the drum 21 I are traced curves graduated in functions of 0', so as to permit of the index 20 being displaced by the quantity 0 (1 28 is a pulley mounted on the shaft of a tachometer and its angular movement is proda portional to o 29 is another pulley mounted on the shaft of a tachometer and its angular movement is do) proportional to x 30 and 31 are two steel bands carrying respectively the indices 32, 33 and connected at one end to the pulleys 28, 29 respectively and at the other end to spring barrels 34:, 35 respectively for maintaining them under tension.

The indices 32 and 33 are arranged so as to be movable along the same generating line of the cylinder 21.

On the left hand part of the drum21 are traced curves graduated in functions of the products da and these being read by help of'the indices 32 and 33. By and of the curves traced on the right hand part of drum 21 and graduated in functions of the products the displacement of index 20 is determined, whereby the extrapolated value of the angle of sight G is introduced into the reading of the fuse setting by index 13.

It may be remarked that the law connecting the rotation of the drum 21 to the duration of flight 7% may be of any kind, as also that connecting the displacements of the in dices 32 and 33 to the angular speeds. Among the possible combinations one of the most interesting consists in causing the drum 21 to turn through angles proportional to by suitable graduation of the scale 27,

while the indices 32 and 33 are moved in proportion to the angular speeds. This combination facilitates the tracing and reading of the scales which are then represented by a system or bundle of straight lines.

It is possible, without change in the principle of the apparatus, to replace the cylinders 1 and 21 by rotating disks, or even by fixed scales, but in the latter case the readings are made at the intersection of the two indices the displacements of which are functions of the two variables which are to be taken into consideration.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification wherein the graduation before which the index 20 is displaceable, may remain fixed and the index 20 be displaced in quantities proportional to c, the drum 1 being given a rotation corresponding to the fictive altitude IL-Kc, in order to take into account the dead or lost time 25 in the observation.

In Fig. 2, 36 is a fixed scale graduated, for instance, in functions of the products a ta O and over which is displaced the index 20 as described above, except that the screw 18 is on a shaft provided with a bevel gear 37 meshing with a similar gear 38 on a screw spindle 39 working in a nut member 40. In a side extension of the nut member is a bearing for receiving a spindle 41 having two collars 4:2, 43 integral with the worm shaft 4. The scale 7 in this modification is not fixed in position but is movable with nut member 40. When handle 16 is turned this movement is transmitted to nut 1O, thereby longitudinally moving worm shaft 4 and rotating gear 5 and drum 1. By thus rotating the drum 1 while index 20 is displaced through a quantity ing extrapolated distances corresponding to the extrapolated value of the angle of sight Fig. 2 shows drum 21 of Fig. 1 with the right hand portion which bears curves graduated in functions of cr removed. In other respects the construction is the same as in Fig. 1, above described.

This result could be obtained by giving to the worm 4: as well as to the scale 7 a longitudinal displacement corresponding to that of 19.

WVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In apparatus for reading 01f fuse settings for projectiles to be fired at aerial targets, the combination of a support movable in functions of target heights, and provided with sets of curves one of which reads directly durations of flights and the other reads distances for fuse settings, indices movable over said curves in response to movements of a sighting device, and means for displacing the fuse setting index by a quantity to correct the indicated fuse setting reading.

2. In apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said means for advancing the fuse-setting index comprises a drum provided with a set of curves reading products of time of flight and angular speed of the target, means for rotating said drum in functions of times of flight, and an index movable over said curves in proportion to the angular speed of the target, and a manuallyoperated index having connection with said fuse-setting index for applying said corrections.

3. In apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said drum is provided with a set of curves giving the quantities t a 1 1. for displacing said last-named index.

4. In a device of the nature described, the combination of a rotary drum (1) carrying scales in functions of the altitude of the target, an observation telescope, a sector (9) attached thereto, a spring barrel (15) and a ribbon (11) connected to the sector and spring barrel for the purpose of providing the displacement a a movable roller (19) and a drum (21) carrying curves corresponding to the value of a, for superimposing on the ribbon (11) a movement corresponding to the complementary displacement (fo t .1(1

and an index (13) on the ribbon movable along a generator of the cylinder (1) the combined movements resulting in a movement of the index (13) in proportion to the extrapolated value d z o+ (fed- 8% 0 5. In a device of the nature described, the combination of a rotary drum (1) provided with scales on its surface, means for rotating the drum in functions of the fictive altitude H Ko', and an index movable along the generator of the drum in proportion to the extrapolated value (2 -1-0; the correction (Ku) in the altitude representing the dead time 6 In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JOSEPH LOUIS ROUTIN.

Witnesses:

MAROEL GUILLEMOT, CHAS. P. PRESSLY. 

